Xenorhabdus nematophila BP杀虫毒素基因的序列分析及其杀虫活性

XnBP83是从Xenorhabdus nematophila BP基因组粘粒文库中筛选出的一个对棉铃虫有较强口服杀虫活性的克隆．采用亚克隆结合primer-walking DNA测序技术对粘粒XnBP83的插入片段进行序列测定．该插入片段全长38939bp，其中包括5个与杀虫活性相关的tc类基因xptA1、xptB1、xptC1、xptA2、xptD1．序列分析显示：a．插入片段中的xptD1不完整，与X．nematophila PMFI296 XptD1相应氨基酸序列有99％的相似性．b．BP xptA1读码框全长7569bp，编码2520个氨基酸，与PMFI296的XptA1氨基酸序列有98％的相似性，两者在第2200-2223氨基酸区域连续有23个氨基酸不同．c．BP xptB1读码框全长3051bp，编码1016个氨基酸，与PMFI296 XptB1氨基酸序列有98％的相似性，在第620-650氨基酸之间有28个氨基酸差异．d．BP xptC1读码框全长4225bp，编码1408个氨基酸，与PMFI296的XptC1氨基酸序列有96％的相似性．在BP的第232氨基酸后插入了一个TAQRYLAK的氨基酸序列，在第627-646氨基酸区域内，有18个氨基酸不同．e．BP xptA2读码框全长7574bp，编码2524个氨基酸，与PMFI296的XptA2氨基酸序列有90％的相似性，在BP品系XptA2的第788-855氨基酸和第1630～1784氨基酸有两个明显变异区．将XnBP83培养物上清和沉淀饲喂棉铃虫、甜菜夜蛾、斜纹夜蛾和粉纹夜蛾，结果表明XnBP83对所测昆虫有广谱杀虫活性．     

苏云金芽胞杆菌营养期杀虫蛋白基因的克隆及表达分析

选择本实验室分离的苏云金芽胞杆菌李氏亚种 (subsp. Leesis) 菌株YBT833、鲇泽亚种(subsp.Aizawai) 菌株YBT-1416和库斯塔克亚种(subsp. Kurstaki)菌株YBT1535为出发菌株,以营养期杀虫蛋白基因PCR扩增的特异片段为探针,进行总DNA酶切片段的Southern杂交定位。结果显示3株菌株的营养期杀虫蛋白基因,均位于经XbaI完全消化的4～5kb大小的DNA 片段上。将该区域DNA片段回收后克隆到pUC19载体,建立了3个较基因组文库小的亚基因组文库。通过菌落原位杂交筛选和酶切鉴定分别得到3个相应的营养期杀虫蛋白基因vip83、vip14和vip15,并对其测序。DNA序列比较发现基因vip83与已知营养期杀虫蛋白基因存在5个差异碱基。将vip83、vip14基因亚克隆到苏云金芽胞杆菌大肠杆菌穿梭载体pHT315, 分别得到重组质粒pBMB8901和pBMB8902。将它们电转化到vip^-的B.t.受体菌BMB171和4Q7,获得了相应的工程菌BMB8901-171,BMB8902-171,BMB8901-4Q7和BMB8902-4Q7。SDS-PAGE电泳检测均有88kD大小的蛋白表达。生物测定结果亦表明了,营养期杀虫蛋白Vip83和Vip14对鳞翅目棉铃虫、小菜蛾和甜菜夜蛾的三龄幼虫均有一定的杀虫活性;其中对小菜蛾的毒力最高,LC₅₀值分别为28.6,31.6,45.4和37.6μL/mL。该结果为构建高效广谱工程菌提供了实际材料和理论依据。      

双价杀虫蛋白基因在荧光假单胞菌中的表达及增效

利用广宿主质粒载体pJMS6αlac将苏云金芽胞杆菌(Bacillus thuringiensis)杀虫晶体蛋白基因cry1Ac和cry2Aa基因分别及一起进行克隆,将重组质粒导入能在多种作物上定殖、对植物病菌有良好抑菌和防治作用的荧光假单胞菌(Pseudomonas fluorescens)P303菌株,分别得到工程菌株IPP101、IPP201和IPP202。PCRRFLP和Southern blot检测均证明目的基因已经导入了工程菌。SDSPAGE电泳显示工程菌中存在明显的Cry1Ac蛋白带;透射电镜观察发现含cry1Ac基因的两个菌株IPP101和IPP202中杀虫蛋白形成了典型的菱形晶体和蛋白包含体,而在野生P303菌株中均无这些结构。这些结果说明,工程菌中cry1Ac基因得到了很好表达。室内杀虫试验表明：工程菌对棉铃虫初孵幼虫的致死中浓度(LC50),只含cry1Ac的IPP101为000812mL/g饲料,只含cry2Aa的IPP201为002604mL/g饲料,含双基因的IPP202为000186mL/g饲料;HD73为000170mL/g饲料。cry1Ac和cry2Aa双基因表达产物具有显著增效作用,共毒系数达3328。     

苏云金芽胞杆菌YBT1520杀虫晶体蛋白基因的属性

通过Southern杂交发现高毒力苏云金芽胞杆菌(\%Bacillus thuringiensis)\% YBT1520菌株含有两个杀虫晶体蛋白基因片段,其5’末端所在HindⅢ片段分别为68kb和46kb,它们对应的基因分别命名为cry218和cry46。经PCR鉴定,该菌含有cry1Aa\,cry1Ab和cry1Ac基因,以及cry2基因,其中cry218属于cry1Ac。分析了cry218基因4190bp的核苷酸序列,在杀虫晶体蛋白基因分类系统中被命名为cry1Ac10。结合Southern杂交和PCR结果可判断3个cry1A基因的拷贝数不同,其中cry1Ac拷贝数最高,YBT1520菌株与其它库斯塔克亚种的杀虫晶体蛋白基因所在限制性内切酶位置明显不同。     

苏云金杆菌辅助蛋白P20对杀虫晶体蛋白Cry1Ab表达的影响

苏云金杆菌(Bacillus thuringiensis, 简称Bt)杀虫晶体蛋白Cry1Ab因其C半端缺少了一段含4个半胱氨酸的氨基酸序列而导致蛋白的不稳定,报道苏云金杆菌辅助蛋白P20帮助Cry1Ab蛋白的表达及晶体的形成。利用穿梭载体pHT3101构建3个表达质粒,即pT1B、pP1B和pDP1B,3个质粒都含有cry1Ab基因,不同在于pT1B没有p20基因,pP1B含有p20全基因,而pDP1B不仅含有p20全基因,且在p20基因前插入cry1A?启动子。分别将这3个表达质粒经电转化到苏云金杆菌晶体缺陷型菌株CryB中,获得转化菌株T1B、P1B和DP1B。Western blot表明cry1Ab基因在这3株菌中均表达了130 kD的蛋白,部分降解为大约60 kD的蛋白。蛋白定量分析显示,3株菌130 kD蛋白量的比为1∶1.4∶1.5,降解后的60 kD蛋白量的 比为1∶1.1∶1.6,Cry1Ab蛋白总量的比为1∶1∶2∶1.6。镜检发现,Cry1Ab在3株菌中都形成典型的菱形晶体,其晶体大小为T1B Helicoverpa armigera）均具有明显的杀虫活性,三者的LC₅₀差异不显著。研究表明,P20对cry1Ab基因的表达和晶体形成均有帮助,P20表达量的多少可能是导致Cry1Ab蛋白最终产量有所不同的因素。     

苏云金芽胞杆菌营养期杀虫蛋白Vip与Cry蛋白的协同作用*

将构建的营养期杀虫蛋白基因vip83表达质粒pBMB2 32 8和含杀虫晶体蛋白基因(cry1Ac1 0或cry1Ca)质粒同时电转化无质粒突变株BMB1 71并双抗筛选。经PCR特异引物扩增验证 ,分别得到含cry1Ac1 0和vip83、cry1Ca和vip83的双基因重组菌BMB2 830 1 71和BMB2 882 1 71。用单基因重组菌作对照 ,分别测定了营养期杀虫蛋白Vip83与杀虫晶体蛋白Cry1Ac1 0和Cry1Ca两组蛋白对 3种重要鳞翅目害     

节杆菌BT801基因文库构建及其乙内酰脲酶基因分离与表达

L-乙内酰脲酶产生菌节杆菌 BT801的染色体DNA经Sau3A I 部分酶切后分离30kb左右的片段,与经HpaI和PstI酶切的黏粒载体Pkc505进行连接,将连接产物用包装蛋白包装,转染大肠杆菌DH5α得到10 000多个转化子,构建成节杆菌BT801的基因组文库。通过薄层层析等方法筛选得到了1个阳性克隆,通过亚克隆得到了乙内酰脲酶的完整基因,该基因能分别利用自身的启动子和T5启动子在大肠杆菌中进行表达产生有活性的蛋白。     

荧光发光杆菌TT01品系pirA2B2 基因的克隆表达与杀虫活性

【目的】Photorhabdus luminescens TT01基因组中的一对ORF plu4437-plu4436(简称pirA2B2)的预测氨基酸序列与另一对已证明编码产物有口服杀虫活性的ORF plu4093-plu4092(简称pirA1B1)有50%和45%的一致性,本文旨在研究pirA2B2基因座的表达产物是否也有杀虫活性。【方法】PCR扩增并克隆了pirA2,pirB2和pirA2B2基因,构建了重组表达载体pQE-pirA2,pQE-pirB2和pQE-pirA2B2并分别转入M15菌株表达,经SDS-PAGE和Western blot检测证明,3个重组菌株经IPTG诱导后,分别成功表达了可溶的PirA2,PirB2和PirA2B2蛋白。用亲和层析结合脱盐技术对3个重组菌株表达的外源蛋白分别进行纯化,并通过生物测定确定纯化蛋白的杀虫活性。【结果】生物测定结果显示联合表达的PirA2B2对大蜡螟和斜纹夜蛾五龄幼虫均有明显的血腔杀虫活性,LD50分别为每虫4.0和2.8μg,单独表达的PirA2或PirB2对上述2种害虫没有血腔杀虫活性,但两者的混合物具有与两者联合表达相似的杀虫活性;PirA2B2对大蜡螟和斜纹夜蛾初孵幼虫均无口服杀虫活性。【结论】pirA2B2是P.luminescens TT01菌株基因组中的另一个二元杀虫毒素基因。【意义】pirA2B2的成功克隆表达和杀虫功能的确定为进一步研究其与pirA1B1的关系以及该基因的表达调控等打下了基础。     

31株苏云金芽孢杆菌杀虫晶体蛋白基因型鉴定及表达产物研究

利用已建立的苏云金芽孢杆菌cry基因的PCRRFLP鉴定体系,鉴定了31株Bt菌株的cry基因类型,并进行了SDSPAGE分析和杀虫生物活性测定。研究表明：25株含cry1基因,表达蛋白130～150kD;其中16株含有对鞘翅目和鳞翅目害虫皆有活性的cry1I基因,其表达蛋白为81kD;15株同时含有cry1和cry2基因(13株表达蛋白约为60kD);10株含有未知待定基因;6株不含所鉴定的cry基因(其中2株有表达产物)。室内生物测定表明：cry1、cry2基因表达的菌株对鳞翅目害虫具有高杀虫活性,7株对舞毒蛾和膜翅目——杨叶蜂幼虫具有较高杀虫活性;含有cry1Aa\,cry1Ac\,cry2或cry1Ab\,cry1Ac\,cry2基因组合的菌株对棉铃虫幼虫均显示杀虫活性,其中6、12、30号菌株毒力最强。不含上述cry基因的菌株均无杀虫活性。以上结果证明,通过cry基因类型鉴定和表达产物的SDSPAGE分析可以预测菌株的杀虫活性。     

苏云金杆菌vip3A基因的克隆、表达及杀虫活性分析

用全长PCR方法从野生型苏云金杆菌（Bacillus thuringiensis,Bt）菌株S184中克隆了2.3 kb大小的vip3A基因并进行了序列分析。将vip3AS184基因插入表达载体pQE30构建了表达质粒pOTP,转化大肠杆菌M15,转化子经1mmol/L IPTG诱导后可表达89 kD大小的Vip3A-S184蛋白,并得到Western blot证实。蛋白可溶性试验表明,目的蛋白中约有19%是可溶的,用透射电镜观察到大多数蛋白是以包涵体形式存在的。因此,可以在自然条件下进行目的蛋白的纯化和对家兔进行免疫制备多克隆抗体,用于苏云金杆菌Vip3A蛋白表达的检测。利用IPTG进行诱导培养的菌液对甜菜夜蛾（Spodoptera exigua）、斜纹夜蛾(S.litura)和棉铃虫(Helicoverpa armigera)等3种害虫的初孵幼虫进行生物测定,结果表明,Vip3AS184蛋白对夜蛾科害虫具有较高的杀虫活性。     

Interactions of insecticidal toxin gene products from Xenorhabdus nematophilus PMFI296

Four genes on a genomic fragment from Xenorhabdus nematophilus PMFI296 were shown to be involved in insecticidal activity towards three commercially important insect species. Each gene was expressed individually and in combinations in Escherichia coli, and the insecticidal activity of the lysates was determined. The combined four genes (xptA1, xptA2, xptB1, and xptC1), in E. coli, showed activity towards Pieris brassicae, Pieris rapae, and Heliothis virescens. The genes xptA1, xptB1, and xptC1 were involved in expressing activity towards P. rapae and P. brassicae, while the genes xptA2, xptB1, and xptC1 were needed for activity towards H. virescens. When each of these three genes was expressed individually in E. coli and the cell lysates were used in insect assays or mixed and then used, insecticidal activity was detected at a very low level. If the genes xptB1 and xptC1 were expressed in the same E. coli cell and this cell lysate was mixed with cells expressing xptA1, activity was restored to P. rapae and P. brassicae. Similarly mixing XptB1/C1 lysate with XptA2 lysate restored activity towards H. virescens. Individual gene disruptions in X. nematophilus PMFI296 reduced activity to insects; this activity was restored by complementation with cells expressing either xptA1 or xptA2 for their respective disruptions or E. coli expressing both xptB1 and xptC1 for individual disruptions of either of these genes. The genes xptA2, xptC1, and xptB1 were expressed as an operon in PMFI296 and inactivation of xptA2 or xptC1 resulted in silencing of downstream gene(s), while xptA1 was expressed as a single gene. Therefore, the two three gene product combinations interact with each other to produce good insecticidal activity.     

Sequence analysis of insecticidal genes from Xenorhabdus nematophilus PMFI296

Three strains of Xenorhabdus nematophilus showed insecticidal activity when fed to Pieris brassicae (cabbage white butterfly) larvae. From one of these strains (X. nematophilus PMFI296) a cosmid genome library was prepared in Escherichia coli and screened for oral insecticidal activity. Two overlapping cosmid clones were shown to encode insecticidal proteins, which had activity when expressed in E. coli (50% lethal concentration [LC(50)] of 2 to 6 microg of total protein/g of diet). The complete sequence of one cosmid (cHRIM1) was obtained. On cHRIM1, five genes (xptA1, -A2, -B1, -C1, and -D1) showed homology with up to 49% identity to insecticidal toxins identified in Photorhabdus luminescens, and also a smaller gene (chi) showed homology to a putative chitinase gene (38% identity). Transposon mutagenesis of the cosmid insert indicated that the genes xptA2, xptD1, and chi were not important for the expression of insecticidal activity toward P. brassicae. One gene (xptA1) was found to be central for the expression of activity, and the genes xptB1 and xptC1 were needed for full activity. The location of these genes together on the chromosome and therefore present on a single cosmid insert probably accounted for the detection of insecticidal activity in this E. coli clone. Although multiple genes may be needed for full activity, E. coli cells expressing the xptA1 gene from the bacteriophage lambda P(L) promoter were shown to have insecticidal activity (LC(50) of 112 microg of total protein/g of diet). This is contrary to the toxin genes identified in P. luminescens, which were not insecticidal when expressed individually in E. coli. High-level gene expression and the use of a sensitive insect may have aided in the detection of insecticidal activity in the E. coli clone expressing xptA1. The location of these toxin genes and the chitinase gene and the presence of mobile elements (insertion sequence) and tRNA genes on cHRIM1 indicates that this region of DNA represents a pathogenicity island on the genome of X. nematophilus PMFI296.     

Interactions of Insecticidal Toxin Gene Products from Xenorhabdus nematophilus PMFI296

Four genes on a genomic fragment from Xenorhabdus nematophilus PMFI296 were shown to be involved in insecticidal activity towards three commercially important insect species. Each gene was expressed individually and in combinations in Escherichia coli, and the insecticidal activity of the lysates was determined. The combined four genes (xptA1, xptA2, xptB1, and xptC1), in E. coli, showed activity towards Pieris brassicae, Pieris rapae, and Heliothis virescens. The genes xptA1, xptB1, and xptC1 were involved in expressing activity towards P. rapae and P. brassicae, while the genes xptA2, xptB1, and xptC1 were needed for activity towards H. virescens. When each of these three genes was expressed individually in E. coli and the cell lysates were used in insect assays or mixed and then used, insecticidal activity was detected at a very low level. If the genes xptB1 and xptC1 were expressed in the same E. coli cell and this cell lysate was mixed with cells expressing xptA1, activity was restored to P. rapae and P. brassicae. Similarly mixing XptB1/C1 lysate with XptA2 lysate restored activity towards H. virescens. Individual gene disruptions in X. nematophilus PMFI296 reduced activity to insects; this activity was restored by complementation with cells expressing either xptA1 or xptA2 for their respective disruptions or E. coli expressing both xptB1 and xptC1 for individual disruptions of either of these genes. The genes xptA2, xptC1, and xptB1 were expressed as an operon in PMFI296 and inactivation of xptA2 or xptC1 resulted in silencing of downstream gene(s), while xptA1 was expressed as a single gene. Therefore, the two three gene product combinations interact with each other to produce good insecticidal activity.     

Sequence Analysis of Insecticidal Genes from Xenorhabdus nematophilus PMFI296

Three strains of Xenorhabdus nematophilus showed insecticidal activity when fed to Pieris brassicae (cabbage white butterfly) larvae. From one of these strains (X. nematophilus PMFI296) a cosmid genome library was prepared in Escherichia coli and screened for oral insecticidal activity. Two overlapping cosmid clones were shown to encode insecticidal proteins, which had activity when expressed in E. coli (50% lethal concentration [LC₅₀] of 2 to 6 μg of total protein/g of diet). The complete sequence of one cosmid (cHRIM1) was obtained. On cHRIM1, five genes (xptA1, -A2, -B1, -C1, and -D1) showed homology with up to 49% identity to insecticidal toxins identified in Photorhabdus luminescens, and also a smaller gene (chi) showed homology to a putative chitinase gene (38% identity). Transposon mutagenesis of the cosmid insert indicated that the genes xptA2, xptD1, and chi were not important for the expression of insecticidal activity toward P. brassicae. One gene (xptA1) was found to be central for the expression of activity, and the genes xptB1 and xptC1 were needed for full activity. The location of these genes together on the chromosome and therefore present on a single cosmid insert probably accounted for the detection of insecticidal activity in this E. coli clone. Although multiple genes may be needed for full activity, E. coli cells expressing the xptA1 gene from the bacteriophage lambda P_L promoter were shown to have insecticidal activity (LC₅₀ of 112 μg of total protein/g of diet). This is contrary to the toxin genes identified in P. luminescens, which were not insecticidal when expressed individually in E. coli. High-level gene expression and the use of a sensitive insect may have aided in the detection of insecticidal activity in the E. coli clone expressing xptA1. The location of these toxin genes and the chitinase gene and the presence of mobile elements (insertion sequence) and tRNA genes on cHRIM1 indicates that this region of DNA represents a pathogenicity island on the genome of X. nematophilus PMFI296.     

Cloning and heterologous expression of a novel insecticidal gene (tccC1) from Xenorhabdus nematophilus strain

We have identified and cloned a novel toxin gene (tccC1/xptB1) from Xenorhabdus nematophilus strain isolated from Korea-specific entomophagous nematode Steinernema glaseri MK. The DNA sequence of cloned toxin gene (3048 bp) has an open reading frame encoding 1016 amino acids with a predicted molecular mass of 111058 Da. The toxin sequence shares 50-96% identical amino acid residues with the previously reported tccC1 cloned from X. nematophilus, Photorhabdus luminescens W14 P. luminescens TTO1, and Yersinia pestis CO92. The toxin gene was successfully expressed in Escherichia coli, and the recombinant toxin protein caused a rapid cessation in mortality of Galleria mellonella larvae (80% death of larvae within 2 days). Conclusively, the heterologous expression of the novel gene tccC1 cloned into E. coli plasmid vector produced recombinant toxin with high insecticidal activity.     

肠道菌对苏云金芽胞杆菌杀虫活性的研究

苏云金芽胞杆菌(Bacillus thuringiensis,Bt)在生长发育过程中伴随芽胞的形成高效表达对昆虫具有特异毒性的杀虫晶体蛋白,从而被广泛应用于害虫防治上。有关Bt的杀虫机制,近年来有学者提出了肠道菌模型,认为肠道菌在Bt发挥杀虫活性中是必须的,也有人提出相反的观点。以棉铃虫作为供试昆虫,利用Cry1Ac10晶体蛋白研究了棉铃虫肠道菌在Bt杀虫过程中所发挥的功能。结果发现,在棉铃虫中肠道菌并非Bt杀虫所必需,并且在肠道菌存在的情况下,Bt杀虫活性反而明显降低,通过肠道菌回接试验发现5号肠道菌对棉铃虫的保护作用最为明显。     

Toxicity of Bacillus thuringiensis insecticidal proteins for Helicoverpa armigera and Helicoverpa punctigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), major pests of cotton

The susceptibilities of the major pests of cotton in Australia, Helicoverpa armigera and Helicoverpa punctigera, to some insecticidal proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis were tested by bioassay. A commercial formulation, DiPel, and individual purified insecticidal proteins were tested. H. armigera was consistently more tolerant to B. thuringiensis insecticidal proteins than was H. punctigera, although both were susceptible to only a limited range of these proteins. Only Cry1Ab, Cry1Ac, Cry2Aa, Cry2Ab, and Vip3A killed H. armigera at dosages that could be considered acceptable. There was no significant difference in the toxicities of Cry1Fa and Cry1Ac for H. punctigera but Cry1Fa had little toxicity for H. armigera. The five instars of H. armigera did not differ significantly in their susceptibility to DiPel on the basis of LC(50). However, there were significant differences in the susceptibility to Cry1Ac and Cry2Aa of three strains of H. armigera. Bioassays conducted with Cry1Ac and Cry2Aa showed that there was a small but significant negative interaction between these delta-endotoxins.     

Insecticidal activity associated with the outer membrane vesicles of Xenorhabdus nematophilus

Xenorhabdus nematophilus secretes a large number of proteins into the culture supernatant as soluble proteins and also as large molecular complexes associated with the outer membrane. Transmission electron micrographs of X. nematophilus cells showed that there was blebbing of the outer membrane from the surface of the bacterium. The naturally secreted outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) were purified from the culture supernatant of X. nematophilus and analyzed. Electron microscopy revealed a vesicular organization of the large molecular complexes, whose diameters varied from 20 to 100 nm. A sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis profile of the vesicles showed that in addition to outer membrane proteins, several other polypeptides were also present. The membrane vesicles contained lipopolysaccharide, which appeared to be of the smooth type. Live cells of X. nematophilus and the OMV proteins derived from them exhibited oral insecticidal activity against neonatal larvae of Helicoverpa armigera. The proteins present in the OMVs are apparently responsible for the biological activity of the OMVs. The soluble proteins left after removal of the OMVs and the outer membrane proteins also showed low levels of oral toxicity to H. armigera neonatal larvae. The OMV protein preparations were cytotoxic to Sf-21 cells in an in vitro assay. The OMV proteins showed chitinase activity. This is the first report showing toxicity of outer membrane blebs secreted by the insect pathogen X. nematophilus into the extracellular medium.     

Molecular and functional characterization of genes encoding horse MHC class I antigens

Sequence and functional analyses were undertaken on two cDNAs and a genomic clone encoding horse major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules. All of the clones were isolated from a single horse that is homozygous for all known horse MHC class I and class II antigens. The two cDNAs (clones 8-9 and 1-29) were isolated from a lymphocyte library and encode polymorphic MHC antigens from two loci. The genomic cosmid clone, isolated from a sperm library, contains the 8-9 gene. All three genes were expressed in mouse L-cells and were recognized by alloantisera and, for the cDNAs, by alloreactive cytotoxic T lymphocytes. A total of 3815 bp of the genomic clone were sequenced, extending from 429 bp upstream (5') of the leader peptide through the 3' untranslated region. Promoter region motifs and an intron-exon structure characteristic of MHC class I genes of other species were found. A subclone containing 407 bp of the promoter region was inserted into a chloramphenicol acetyl transferase reporter plasmid, tested in transient transfection assays, and found to have promoter activity in heterologous cells. This genomic clone will enable detailed studies of MHC class I gene regulation in horse trophoblasts, and in horse retroviral infections.